WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.000
 We find ourselves in Mark's text in the Passion Week, coming to the great climax of that the watershed moment in all of history.

00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:20.000
! And we've been in this week for quite some time in Mark's account since chapter 11, which was Monday.

00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:29.380
 And we've seen Jesus' activity in Jerusalem that ultimately and finally culminates in what we will look at and discuss this week and next.

00:00:29.380 --> 00:00:36.799
 And then, praise God, the timing worked out so wonderfully on Easter Sunday. We'll get to preach the resurrection from chapter 16.

00:00:37.859 --> 00:00:46.039
 But we saw back in chapter 14, Jesus had participated in the Passover meal with his disciples where he instituted the ordinance of the Lord's Supper.

00:00:46.039 --> 00:00:55.299
 And this would have been on Friday in Jewish terms. It would have been our Thursday night, but their sundown Thursday became Friday.

00:00:55.560 --> 00:01:00.359
 So Friday, the beginning of Friday for them, is when they had this Passover meal.

00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:06.239
 And then Jesus and the disciples had gone to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested.

00:01:07.239 --> 00:01:14.140
 Jesus then stands trial before Annas, who was kind of the godfather of the priesthood of the day.

00:01:14.140 --> 00:01:18.280
 And Mark does not record this trial, but then he's then taken to Caiaphas.

00:01:18.579 --> 00:01:22.579
 We saw this a couple of weeks ago, along with the rest of the Sanhedrin.

00:01:23.079 --> 00:01:26.700
 And then we see Peter deny him in the rest of chapter 14.

00:01:27.579 --> 00:01:35.579
 At the beginning of 15, there is a mock trial held with the Sanhedrin once again, just for show, because it was illegal for them to have trials at night.

00:01:35.659 --> 00:01:42.000
 They had to have them in the daytime. So they go through the activity of a trial once again in verse 1.

00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:53.099
 And then as Kyle preached to us last week, a trial before Pilate, a trial before Herod, which Mark also doesn't record, and then another trial before Pilate.

00:01:53.239 --> 00:01:56.780
 And so we observe together these varying trials.

00:01:56.920 --> 00:02:06.439
 There were six altogether, all perversions of justice, all unable to honestly declare him guilty of any real offense,

00:02:06.439 --> 00:02:09.939
 but all of them leading to his final sentencing.

00:02:10.199 --> 00:02:12.539
 And we read to you again, Mark 15, 15.

00:02:12.699 --> 00:02:16.840
 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released from them Barabbas.

00:02:16.919 --> 00:02:20.859
 And having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:29.439
 And it was ultimately and finally the Jews that really wanted Jesus dead as he was coming and disrupting the power that they had established

00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:33.419
 with this false worship of the one true God.

00:02:33.479 --> 00:02:39.419
 And we have seen repeatedly that it is possible to worship the right God wrongly.

00:02:39.539 --> 00:02:43.939
 And Jesus is disrupting the system of power and prestige that they had.

00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:49.460
 And so it's ultimately the Jews, the Jewish council, the Jewish religious leaders that want him put to death.

00:02:49.500 --> 00:02:55.939
 But they need the Roman sentence because it was illegal for them to give out a death sentence.

00:02:55.939 --> 00:02:59.439
 The death sentence for the Jews would have been stoning.

00:03:00.579 --> 00:03:04.400
 The death sentence from a Roman court was crucifixion.

00:03:04.599 --> 00:03:10.039
 And this is why all of this is necessary to bring about the events that we look at today.

00:03:10.780 --> 00:03:17.099
 And so we see that Jesus is delivered over to the soldiers in verses 16 through 20.

00:03:17.219 --> 00:03:21.939
 We see him and observe him being mocked by the Roman soldiers.

00:03:21.939 --> 00:03:26.079
 Now it mentions that he's scourged in verse 15.

00:03:26.219 --> 00:03:35.680
 He's already been beat rather viciously with what's called a cat and nine tails with a whip that had within it pieces of bone and glass.

00:03:35.819 --> 00:03:42.919
 And they would intentionally try to embed this whip into the skin of the person being beat and rip skin off.

00:03:43.639 --> 00:03:47.060
 The Romans prided themselves in this type of torture.

00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:48.919
 They were very, very good at it.

00:03:48.919 --> 00:03:55.359
 And so Jesus was already probably likely a pitiable sight as he's delivered over to the soldiers.

00:03:55.919 --> 00:04:00.879
 But the soldiers feel the need to ridicule him all the more.

00:04:01.939 --> 00:04:10.899
 The battalions of this day would have been gathered in amongst men who lived amongst the Jews that were not of Jewish descent.

00:04:11.599 --> 00:04:14.679
 Men who would have been of lesser class than Jews.

00:04:14.680 --> 00:04:22.639
 But when Rome came and conquered, they were included in these battalions and they had a personal vendetta against the Jews.

00:04:22.920 --> 00:04:30.680
 So they seek to show their military might over the Jews by holding this mock ceremony of enthronement.

00:04:31.540 --> 00:04:37.759
 This is Jesus who they have said could be the Messiah, could be the king of the Jews.

00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:43.699
 And in the Jewish improper understanding, the Messiah was going to come and rule militarily.

00:04:44.459 --> 00:04:46.019
 And these men know that.

00:04:46.420 --> 00:04:50.000
 Oh, this is the one that's come to deliver you from the hands of the Romans.

00:04:50.819 --> 00:04:52.519
 Let's make a mockery of that.

00:04:52.920 --> 00:04:55.579
 Let's deride him in every way.

00:04:55.579 --> 00:05:03.719
 Calling him the king of the Jews rightly, but in a improper fashion.

00:05:04.579 --> 00:05:11.579
 Now in verse 16, we see that the whole battalion was called together and a Roman battalion was typically 600 men.

00:05:11.579 --> 00:05:19.500
 It varied in some cases and simply could mean in this case that all the men on duty were gathered.

00:05:19.639 --> 00:05:21.599
 But nonetheless, it would have been quite a scene.

00:05:21.939 --> 00:05:29.479
 The entire battalion, those at least on duty, drawn together to mock and ridicule our Lord.

00:05:30.500 --> 00:05:34.819
 In verse 17, we see the way in which they carried out this ceremony of enthronement.

00:05:34.819 --> 00:05:40.620
 And Matthew describes the dressing up of Jesus in Matthew 27, 28, and 29 in this way.

00:05:40.719 --> 00:05:44.620
 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.

00:05:45.300 --> 00:05:50.579
 It wasn't likely that they could actually afford purple cloth, which was very expensive.

00:05:50.939 --> 00:05:55.659
 But likely robed him in something that was of military relation.

00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:57.219
 It was a military uniform.

00:05:57.399 --> 00:06:01.699
 And they clothed him in a scarlet robe and twisted together a crown of thorns.

00:06:01.699 --> 00:06:05.539
 They put this on his head and put a reed in his right hand.

00:06:05.699 --> 00:06:12.439
 Possibly the very reed that they beat him over the head with later is this reed put in his hand meant to look like a scepter.

00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:16.159
 And we see the royal robe and the crown as well.

00:06:17.699 --> 00:06:24.219
 And they say and they bow before him, hail, king of the Jews.

00:06:25.620 --> 00:06:29.500
 Now, I'm so very thankful that we are on this side of the cross.

00:06:29.500 --> 00:06:36.500
 I'm so incredibly thankful that we know what the final outcome of this derision is for our Lord.

00:06:36.600 --> 00:06:40.720
 But let me ask you just to put yourself in the place of a disciple of Jesus Christ.

00:06:41.079 --> 00:06:46.399
 This being done in secret, but seeing fully and finally the things that would happen to him.

00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:53.639
 The severe physical beating that he received in his great love for us.

00:06:53.639 --> 00:06:56.459
 And then they lead him out.

00:06:56.560 --> 00:07:02.300
 They take off the purple cloak, Mark records, the scarlet cloak, as Matthew says.

00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:06.379
 And they put his own clothes back on him.

00:07:07.159 --> 00:07:10.240
 Which would have been something they would have done to meet Jewish sensibilities.

00:07:10.419 --> 00:07:13.139
 People were most commonly crucified naked.

00:07:13.599 --> 00:07:15.500
 And our Lord himself was as well.

00:07:15.579 --> 00:07:18.019
 We see them casting lots for his clothes later on.

00:07:18.019 --> 00:07:22.379
 But in order to parade him through the streets, they put his clothes back on him.

00:07:22.439 --> 00:07:28.159
 It would have been seen as shameful and inappropriate to Jewish viewers to do this to him.

00:07:28.199 --> 00:07:30.259
 So they re-clothe him.

00:07:31.339 --> 00:07:36.859
 Many pictures of Christ on the cross include his crown of thorns.

00:07:37.079 --> 00:07:42.639
 But this would have also likely been removed as they would not have been allowed to mock him.

00:07:42.839 --> 00:07:43.620
 These soldiers would have.

00:07:43.620 --> 00:07:48.019
 They did this in secret and then they lead him out into the streets.

00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:55.220
 In verses 21 through 32, we observe his actual crucifixion.

00:07:55.319 --> 00:07:58.720
 And a quick note before we look at all this together.

00:07:59.939 --> 00:08:03.720
 Note in your text, at least likely, some of you may have a verse 28.

00:08:04.439 --> 00:08:09.060
 If you, like me, use ESV, there is no verse 28.

00:08:10.060 --> 00:08:12.280
 Verse 28, if it is in your scripture, says,

00:08:12.279 --> 00:08:17.479
 And the scripture was fulfilled that says he was numbered with the transgressors.

00:08:17.500 --> 00:08:20.559
 Which is a quote from Isaiah 53, 12.

00:08:21.479 --> 00:08:23.979
 Certainly not wrong if it's contained within your text.

00:08:24.039 --> 00:08:25.459
 It's certainly true.

00:08:25.799 --> 00:08:28.919
 This was a prophecy fulfilled in Christ.

00:08:29.179 --> 00:08:31.339
 But it only occurs in later manuscripts.

00:08:31.619 --> 00:08:35.299
 And so many translators have chosen to leave it out of the text.

00:08:35.299 --> 00:08:43.159
 And that's why there is no verse 28 in our study today, as well as possibly in your copy of the scriptures as well.

00:08:44.219 --> 00:08:49.399
 After this comparatively lengthy account of the soldier's mockery of Jesus,

00:08:50.319 --> 00:08:55.759
 Mark's account of the crucifixion is economical but powerful.

00:08:55.759 --> 00:09:04.039
 Mark has a way, does he not, if we've looked now at so many chapters in the text of telling things in such pointed accuracy.

00:09:04.460 --> 00:09:07.399
 So very briefly, but so very powerfully.

00:09:07.700 --> 00:09:09.819
 Economical, but certainly powerful.

00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:14.779
 We pick up from the text that Jesus is crucified at 9 a.m.

00:09:14.779 --> 00:09:17.839
 That's the third hour seen in verse 25.

00:09:18.100 --> 00:09:26.159
 At a place called Galgotha or place of a skull, the parenthetical tells us, which would have been included in the original text.

00:09:26.259 --> 00:09:29.039
 We don't know exactly why it was called this.

00:09:29.399 --> 00:09:32.720
 Some have said that the hill itself was in the shape of a skull.

00:09:33.699 --> 00:09:37.339
 Others have said it was simply because it was a place where people were crucified.

00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:39.459
 It was a place of execution.

00:09:39.460 --> 00:09:44.320
 But it would seem either way that Mark doesn't want us to miss the nuance of that.

00:09:44.420 --> 00:09:48.120
 That the place in which our Lord was crucified was called Galgotha.

00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:55.620
 That he was crucified between two robbers, we see in verse 27, who also reviled him.

00:09:56.379 --> 00:10:02.900
 Other texts tell us that one of them stood up in defense of Jesus at a later time and was then converted.

00:10:03.280 --> 00:10:05.160
 Jesus makes a promise that he will see him in glory.

00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:13.360
 There are a couple of things that we have to note about the way in which they're mocking our Lord, because the mocking hasn't ceased.

00:10:13.459 --> 00:10:15.059
 They've put him on the cross.

00:10:15.139 --> 00:10:18.259
 But even as he hangs there, the mocking goes on.

00:10:18.579 --> 00:10:28.159
 The conviction that's hung above him on the cross says that he is the king of the Jews with a great deal of dripping sarcasm.

00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:39.719
 And the accusation thrown at him in verse 32 is let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.

00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:54.180
 Once again, are we not so very fortunate to see on this side of the cross, knowing undoubtedly that Jesus is, in fact, the king of the Jews and the whole world.

00:10:54.620 --> 00:11:01.259
 That by his activity on the cross, he secured his rightful place forever.

00:11:01.259 --> 00:11:10.919
 Now, this peace that's carried, we see in the text here and other gospel accounts that Jesus carried it some way.

00:11:11.080 --> 00:11:12.460
 John says he carried it all the way.

00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:15.080
 Doesn't include Simon at all.

00:11:15.799 --> 00:11:25.980
 There's likely the cross peace, the peace that Jesus's hands were nailed to, that held his hands out wide, that caused the weight of his body to to bear up in suffocation.

00:11:25.980 --> 00:11:34.820
 In verse 21, this is likely the peace that's carried and the man that's asked to carry it as a man called Simon.

00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:40.500
 Likely due to Jesus's exhaustion, the skin being ripped from his bones.

00:11:40.680 --> 00:11:44.500
 He has now taken multiple beatings, a beating the night before by the Sanhedrin.

00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:46.879
 We've now seen him scourged by Pilate.

00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:49.220
 We've now seen him beat by the soldiers.

00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:52.480
 The life being beat out of him.

00:11:52.519 --> 00:11:54.860
 He is already close to the point of death.

00:11:54.860 --> 00:11:58.899
 So likely because of this exhaustion, knowing full well that he couldn't quite get it there.

00:11:59.240 --> 00:12:02.980
 In fact, it would seem in Mark's account that he may not have even walked.

00:12:03.060 --> 00:12:05.560
 It's possible that they took him to the place.

00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:09.139
 Verse 22 says, and they brought him to the place called Golgotha.

00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:12.000
 He may have already been so weak.

00:12:12.779 --> 00:12:16.060
 But it also may have been a further mockery.

00:12:16.800 --> 00:12:22.320
 Kings in this day could demand that anybody, anybody that was subject to them would carry a load for them.

00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:34.700
 It also could have been simply that, that they were asking someone, some random guy out of a crowd, one coming from the country into town to carry his load for him.

00:12:34.700 --> 00:12:41.140
 Now it's interesting that Mark includes some detail about this man.

00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:42.800
 He's coming in from the country.

00:12:42.940 --> 00:12:44.379
 He's from Cyrene.

00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:47.680
 He's the father of Alexander and Rufus.

00:12:47.800 --> 00:12:50.540
 We don't know exactly who this man is.

00:12:50.640 --> 00:12:55.060
 We don't see him definitively anyplace else in the scriptures.

00:12:55.059 --> 00:13:05.139
 It's likely that Mark includes some of these details because the original readers of his letter knew who this man was and knew his sons.

00:13:05.819 --> 00:13:10.500
 Likely, a man who him and his sons had come to faith in Christ.

00:13:11.459 --> 00:13:15.019
 This is the beginning of that, their exposure to him.

00:13:15.019 --> 00:13:23.939
 Some have said that he is the Simeon called Niger, found in Acts chapter 13.

00:13:24.939 --> 00:13:30.659
 Some have said that potentially this Simon was a black man, which is a rather fascinating thing.

00:13:30.740 --> 00:13:36.059
 We can't say with certainty, but he was from Cyrene, which is modern day Libya.

00:13:36.059 --> 00:13:42.079
 And it was very possible that there's now some ethnic diversity already beginning in the church.

00:13:42.219 --> 00:13:44.099
 What a precious thing, if that is true.

00:13:45.979 --> 00:13:50.139
 In verse 23, we see that something is offered to our Christ.

00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:56.259
 They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.

00:13:56.359 --> 00:13:58.639
 And we don't know who they are.

00:13:58.719 --> 00:14:02.979
 It's easily presumed that it's the soldiers that are carrying him there.

00:14:02.980 --> 00:14:10.940
 But it's likely, as they have now beaten him to within an inch of his life, they have mocked and ridiculed him,

00:14:11.180 --> 00:14:14.180
 that they would not have done a thing that would have been generous towards him.

00:14:14.300 --> 00:14:17.639
 They would not have shown him compassion at this point.

00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:22.000
 So I think rightly, the they is presumed to be sympathizers.

00:14:22.740 --> 00:14:30.659
 People who are either waiting for people in general to be crucified or those who are sympathetic specifically to Jesus Christ.

00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:30.779
 Christ.

00:14:31.539 --> 00:14:34.600
 This wine was a spiced wine.

00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:44.860
 It's a wine mixed with myrrh, which was a resinous gum used for perfume and for flavoring, made for a spiced wine.

00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:50.259
 It's possible that the wine would have served as a crude kind of narcotic.

00:14:51.319 --> 00:14:55.000
 And it was offered to him to help ease the pain of crucifixion.

00:14:55.000 --> 00:15:01.820
 There's an example in the Old Testament of wine mixed with frankincense to serve this very purpose.

00:15:02.820 --> 00:15:08.700
 We know for a fact that it was, in a sense, a numbing agent, a narcotic of some sort.

00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:11.340
 We can't say with certainty that myrrh was as well.

00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:14.000
 But likely, this is what's going on.

00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:15.940
 But Jesus refuses it.

00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:18.620
 Why did he do such a thing?

00:15:18.620 --> 00:15:25.179
 He had made a commitment in the garden to the Lord to drink the cup of suffering allotted to him in full measure.

00:15:26.100 --> 00:15:31.279
 And I believe that he wanted to maintain his full faculty as he did so.

00:15:33.060 --> 00:15:40.539
 This scene is recorded by Mark in such a way as to draw his readers' minds to Psalm 22.

00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:45.039
 The very psalm I read to you at the opening of today's service.

00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:49.099
 And the fulfillment of that prophecy.

00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:57.459
 Our Lord fulfilled every single Old Testament prophecy about who he was and what he would do.

00:15:58.819 --> 00:15:59.539
 Verse 24.

00:16:00.539 --> 00:16:01.059
 It's fulfilled.

00:16:01.219 --> 00:16:03.339
 The fulfillment of Psalm 22.18.

00:16:03.579 --> 00:16:05.480
 They divided my garments among them.

00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:08.519
 And for my clothing they cast lots.

00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:12.000
 Verse 29 is the fulfillment of Psalm 22.7.

00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:14.580
 All who seek me mock me.

00:16:15.059 --> 00:16:19.120
 They make mouths at me or say derisive things towards me.

00:16:19.419 --> 00:16:21.899
 They wag their heads.

00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:26.940
 And we see some more fulfillment of that in next week's text as well.

00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:32.240
 So as we look at this and as we consider it,

00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:37.480
 I want us to observe three things from our text to apply to our hearts.

00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:41.860
 I will tell you at the outset of telling you these three things,

00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:43.639
 this has been a difficult week for me.

00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:45.580
 Just the meditation on,

00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:49.320
 not that the death of Christ ever is absent from my thinking,

00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:54.539
 but to really consider the things that he suffered on my behalf

00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:57.379
 were heavy for my heart this week.

00:16:57.500 --> 00:17:00.800
 So let me give you three things to apply to our hearts.

00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:02.859
 Number one,

00:17:04.399 --> 00:17:07.639
 this is not the moment of our Lord's defeat,

00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:11.240
 but rather the moment of his victory.

00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:13.899
 This is not the moment of our Lord's defeat,

00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:15.619
 but rather the moment of his victory.

00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:17.319
 Although paradoxical,

00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:21.960
 Jesus' death was the death blow delivered to sin and death.

00:17:22.919 --> 00:17:26.019
 Colossians 2.13-15 says this,

00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:32.619
 And you who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh,

00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:35.599
 God made alive together with him,

00:17:36.339 --> 00:17:40.000
 having forgiven us all our trespasses by canceling the record of debt

00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:42.139
 that stood against us with his legal demands.

00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:44.440
 This he set aside,

00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:46.720
 nailing it to the cross.

00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:51.660
 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame

00:17:51.660 --> 00:17:55.960
 by triumphing over them in him.

00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:58.500
 We now have life.

00:17:58.619 --> 00:18:00.819
 We are delivered from death

00:18:00.819 --> 00:18:04.960
 because all of the penalty that was due us because of our sin

00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:09.559
 has been nailed in the person of Jesus Christ on the cross.

00:18:10.900 --> 00:18:14.519
 This was the great high moment in redemptive history.

00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:17.259
 Satan thought he was defeating Christ

00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:20.720
 when in fact Satan was being defeated.

00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:24.359
 The enemies of God thought that they had Jesus right where they wanted him,

00:18:24.359 --> 00:18:25.359
 but as it turned out,

00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:28.819
 they were fulfilling God's design.

00:18:29.899 --> 00:18:33.419
 Take comfort in this reality, beloved.

00:18:34.639 --> 00:18:37.819
 The most tragic and gruesome of murders in all of history

00:18:37.819 --> 00:18:41.119
 was worked by God's good design

00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:44.339
 so that you would be delivered and so that he would be glorified.

00:18:44.879 --> 00:18:47.139
 Do not think that the circumstances of your life

00:18:47.139 --> 00:18:51.240
 are not working to the same great ends.

00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:54.940
 God is in control at all times,

00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:56.140
 in all things.

00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:56.880
 Secondly,

00:18:57.380 --> 00:19:01.339
 God's sovereignty was not laid aside in this tragic moment,

00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:03.059
 but rather was in full exercise,

00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:04.859
 as it always is.

00:19:04.859 --> 00:19:17.819
 Kyle last week made this point in his introduction to last week's text,

00:19:17.819 --> 00:19:19.199
 and I really appreciate it.

00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:23.279
 It was good for my heart this week to recall this and remember it.

00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:26.459
 At one of Jesus' trials with Pilate,

00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:28.319
 we see the record in John 19,

00:19:28.619 --> 00:19:30.240
 verse 10 and 11.

00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:31.920
 So Pilate said to him,

00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:34.460
 you will not speak to me?

00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:38.079
 Do you not know that I have authority to release you

00:19:38.079 --> 00:19:40.279
 and authority to crucify you?

00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:41.940
 Verse 11,

00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:43.039
 Jesus answered him,

00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:44.519
 and I love this.

00:19:44.859 --> 00:19:45.519
 I love this.

00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:49.319
 You would have no authority over me at all

00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:52.660
 unless it had been given you from above.

00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:54.980
 Boldness of that.

00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:57.059
 Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost,

00:19:57.160 --> 00:19:59.240
 after speaking of who Jesus is,

00:19:59.360 --> 00:19:59.940
 in chapter 2,

00:19:59.980 --> 00:20:00.819
 verse 23 says,

00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:05.759
 this Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan

00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:08.099
 and foreknowledge of God.

00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:11.819
 You crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

00:20:12.420 --> 00:20:15.559
 He doesn't exonerate them of the guilt of crucifying the Christ,

00:20:16.140 --> 00:20:20.700
 but he does recognize that it was part of God's definite plan.

00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:23.700
 This was a thing that would come to pass

00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:28.019
 because God's sovereignty is always in full exercise.

00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:29.559
 He is always,

00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:31.059
 and in all things,

00:20:31.799 --> 00:20:32.120
 sovereign.

00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:34.180
 Nothing escapes his attention,

00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:38.340
 and everything is controlled by his providence.

00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:39.640
 Praise him.

00:20:41.640 --> 00:20:42.440
 And thirdly,

00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:48.480
 and this was the overwhelming meditation of my heart this week.

00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:53.799
 It's so quick and easy to try to put ourselves in the place of Jesus Christ,

00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:56.720
 to try to stand in his shoes in this,

00:20:56.759 --> 00:21:00.680
 to try to fully grasp what was going on in these moments.

00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:05.860
 So quick was I to rush to that place as a follower of Jesus Christ

00:21:05.860 --> 00:21:08.220
 that I missed something from the text,

00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:12.839
 and that is that I am Barabbas.

00:21:14.339 --> 00:21:15.720
 I am Barabbas,

00:21:15.940 --> 00:21:17.620
 and so are you.

00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:24.539
 Barabbas was guilty of murder during a recent uprising of the Jews against Rome.

00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:25.960
 We see this in chapter 15,

00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:27.019
 verse 7.

00:21:27.120 --> 00:21:30.799
 Mark is very careful to note this so that we are no doubt,

00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:32.559
 there's not a single doubt in our mind,

00:21:32.900 --> 00:21:35.160
 that Barabbas was guilty.

00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:39.000
 He deserved the penalty of a sin.

00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:41.880
 He deserved death on a cross.

00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:47.360
 This would have been the penalty for the crime that he had committed.

00:21:48.360 --> 00:21:51.200
 And in this moment leading up to Jesus' crucifixion,

00:21:51.300 --> 00:21:52.700
 the guilty was made innocent.

00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:54.000
 Barabbas was let go.

00:21:54.300 --> 00:21:56.980
 He was made free because of Christ.

00:21:57.180 --> 00:21:57.940
 And the innocent,

00:21:58.380 --> 00:21:58.700
 Jesus,

00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:00.700
 was made guilty.

00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:02.980
 This is us,

00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:03.440
 beloved.

00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:10.380
 What is due to us because of our sin is the eternal wrath of God.

00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:13.440
 But we have been set free in Christ.

00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:17.259
 He took our place in bearing God's wrath.

00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:21.180
 The second verse of a fantastic song called Man of Sorrows,

00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:21.779
 What a Name,

00:22:21.860 --> 00:22:23.519
 or by a newer version of it,

00:22:23.880 --> 00:22:24.700
 Alleluia,

00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:25.779
 What a Savior,

00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:26.340
 says,

00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:29.740
 Bearing shame and scoffing rude,

00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:32.820
 in my place condemned he stood,

00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:36.200
 sealed my pardon with his blood.

00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:37.480
 Alleluia,

00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:39.060
 What a Savior.

00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:41.840
 And we look at a text like this

00:22:41.840 --> 00:22:45.220
 and we can observe Jesus' physical suffering.

00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:48.500
 It's so readily apparent to us,

00:22:48.840 --> 00:22:49.820
 recorded here.

00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:53.900
 And this was the punishment due to us.

00:22:54.560 --> 00:22:55.100
 Death,

00:22:56.340 --> 00:22:56.840
 derision,

00:22:57.340 --> 00:22:57.820
 reviling,

00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:58.539
 beating,

00:22:58.860 --> 00:23:00.240
 all of these things were due to us

00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:01.519
 because we're enemies of God.

00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:04.440
 But the thing that we cannot see

00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:07.080
 was Jesus' spiritual suffering.

00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:08.940
 The Son of Man,

00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:11.680
 who had had perfect union with the Godhead

00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:13.440
 from all eternity past,

00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:15.039
 came to this earth,

00:23:15.320 --> 00:23:17.940
 lived in a continual state of union

00:23:17.940 --> 00:23:19.500
 with God the Father

00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:20.560
 and the Spirit.

00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:22.980
 And He was separated from Him.

00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:25.019
 God's favor turned from Him.

00:23:25.100 --> 00:23:26.340
 You see so much of that

00:23:26.340 --> 00:23:27.460
 in Psalm 22

00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:29.160
 and in Isaiah 53,

00:23:29.320 --> 00:23:30.900
 which I'll read to you in a moment.

00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:35.080
 That this union was disrupted in this time.

00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:37.320
 And all of God's wrath

00:23:37.320 --> 00:23:38.519
 for all of our sin

00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:41.060
 was poured out on Christ.

00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:44.039
 Because God is perfectly just.

00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:45.860
 He couldn't simply just dismiss

00:23:45.860 --> 00:23:47.240
 our crimes.

00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:48.420
 He had to punish them

00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:49.240
 and He punished them

00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:51.079
 in Jesus.

00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:52.460
 The perfect,

00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.359
 the innocent,

00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:55.140
 bore God's wrath

00:23:55.140 --> 00:23:56.279
 on our behalf.

00:23:57.940 --> 00:23:59.120
 Heard a great analogy

00:23:59.120 --> 00:24:01.740
 which I've stolen from David Platt.

00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:04.480
 Seems always so much more enjoyable

00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:05.380
 when people are dead

00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:06.420
 to steal their analogies.

00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:09.340
 But He said it this way.

00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:12.400
 Imagine you're standing in a valley

00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:14.160
 and your sin is in front of you

00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:15.680
 as a great lake

00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:17.680
 held back by a dam

00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:20.019
 that is eternally wide

00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:22.060
 and eternally tall.

00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:24.539
 The weight of the water

00:24:24.539 --> 00:24:27.080
 just waiting to crush you

00:24:27.080 --> 00:24:29.180
 in an eternal manner.

00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:31.100
 And as you're standing there

00:24:31.100 --> 00:24:31.980
 looking up

00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:33.300
 and from side to side

00:24:33.299 --> 00:24:35.240
 at this great weight

00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:36.200
 before you

00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:38.299
 the dam cracks

00:24:38.299 --> 00:24:39.879
 and it splits

00:24:39.879 --> 00:24:41.680
 and it rushes forth

00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:43.440
 sure death

00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:44.359
 for you.

00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:46.279
 Coming so quickly

00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:47.000
 that there's no way

00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:47.700
 you could avoid it.

00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:49.019
 There's no running away

00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:50.759
 from this punishment

00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:52.180
 coming your way.

00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:53.180
 And just before

00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:54.099
 it crushes you

00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:55.339
 a great hole opens up

00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:56.180
 in the ground before you

00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:58.079
 and all of that water

00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:59.319
 all of the water

00:24:59.319 --> 00:25:00.639
 the eternal weight

00:25:00.639 --> 00:25:01.079
 of that

00:25:01.079 --> 00:25:02.319
 is swallowed up

00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:03.279
 into this hole

00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:05.179
 and this is what Christ did

00:25:05.179 --> 00:25:05.939
 on the cross.

00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:07.079
 He drank deeply

00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:08.279
 of the wrath of God

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:09.039
 and when He was finished

00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:09.839
 He turned the cup over

00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:10.519
 and He slammed it down

00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:10.819
 and He said

00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:12.859
 it is finished.

00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:14.720
 We have been delivered

00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:15.839
 from the weight

00:25:15.839 --> 00:25:16.919
 of our sin

00:25:16.919 --> 00:25:19.039
 the spiritual damnation

00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:20.359
 that is due us forever

00:25:20.359 --> 00:25:22.259
 because of the redemptive work

00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:23.199
 of Christ.

00:25:23.619 --> 00:25:24.659
 He hung on the cross

00:25:24.659 --> 00:25:25.659
 and He did this

00:25:25.659 --> 00:25:26.199
 for you

00:25:26.199 --> 00:25:27.460
 and for me.

00:25:27.699 --> 00:25:28.699
 I am Barabbas

00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:30.519
 and so are you.

00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:33.680
 As I said to you

00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:34.460
 when we began

00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:37.220
 we are commanded

00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:37.819
 to be devoted

00:25:37.819 --> 00:25:38.460
 to the public reading

00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:38.880
 of Scripture.

00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:41.779
 Paul exhorts Timothy

00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:42.180
 to this

00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:44.299
 in 1 Timothy chapter 4

00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:44.920
 and I want to

00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:46.240
 read to you

00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:47.039
 in closing

00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:49.960
 Isaiah chapter 53

00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:51.000
 so turn there with me

00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.840
 if you will please.

00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:58.519
 I keep in my Bible

00:25:58.519 --> 00:26:00.240
 random little bits

00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:00.839
 of encouragement

00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:01.539
 that I get.

00:26:02.299 --> 00:26:03.379
 Many of you have wrote me

00:26:03.379 --> 00:26:04.519
 nice little encouraging notes

00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:05.500
 they get stuck in here

00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:06.639
 and it breaks my heart

00:26:06.639 --> 00:26:07.279
 when they fall out

00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:07.859
 and I lose them.

00:26:08.939 --> 00:26:10.339
 I have in my Bible

00:26:10.339 --> 00:26:11.899
 a little handprint

00:26:11.899 --> 00:26:13.459
 of Judah's little hand

00:26:13.459 --> 00:26:14.699
 my three year old now

00:26:14.699 --> 00:26:16.639
 and Sam wrote on it

00:26:16.639 --> 00:26:17.619
 thank you for loving us

00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:19.199
 and as I was looking

00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:19.620
 for something

00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:21.460
 to mark Isaiah chapter 53

00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:21.900
 with

00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:23.980
 I came across this

00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:25.039
 and reminded me

00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:25.620
 of a conversation

00:26:25.620 --> 00:26:26.440
 that Sam and I had

00:26:26.440 --> 00:26:27.120
 just yesterday

00:26:27.120 --> 00:26:27.900
 where I said to her

00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:29.279
 if our boys understood

00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:30.700
 how much

00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:32.000
 we love them

00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:33.200
 they would be

00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:34.299
 so much more apt

00:26:34.299 --> 00:26:35.200
 to obey us

00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:37.740
 in spite of their

00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.600
 sinful little hearts

00:26:38.600 --> 00:26:41.120
 if they really understood

00:26:41.120 --> 00:26:42.539
 how much

00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:43.620
 my four year old

00:26:43.620 --> 00:26:44.299
 and my three year old

00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:45.220
 how much

00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:46.080
 I love them

00:26:46.080 --> 00:26:47.519
 how desperately

00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.580
 I want their good

00:26:48.579 --> 00:26:49.619
 they'd be so much

00:26:49.619 --> 00:26:50.139
 more apt

00:26:50.139 --> 00:26:53.119
 to obey my commands

00:26:53.119 --> 00:26:54.839
 have that in mind

00:26:54.839 --> 00:26:55.359
 as I read to you

00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:56.039
 Isaiah 53

00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:59.299
 who has believed

00:26:59.299 --> 00:27:00.379
 what he has heard

00:27:00.379 --> 00:27:00.960
 from us

00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:01.980
 and to whom

00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:02.639
 has the arm

00:27:02.639 --> 00:27:03.119
 of the Lord

00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:04.139
 been revealed

00:27:04.139 --> 00:27:05.839
 for he grew up

00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:06.439
 before him

00:27:06.439 --> 00:27:07.460
 like a young plant

00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:08.259
 and like a root

00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:09.559
 out of dry ground

00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:11.199
 he had no form

00:27:11.199 --> 00:27:11.859
 or majesty

00:27:11.859 --> 00:27:12.579
 that we should look

00:27:12.579 --> 00:27:12.899
 at him

00:27:12.899 --> 00:27:13.740
 and no beauty

00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:14.619
 that we should

00:27:14.619 --> 00:27:15.240
 desire him

00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:17.279
 he was despised

00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:17.960
 and rejected

00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:18.599
 by men

00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:20.139
 a man of sorrows

00:27:20.139 --> 00:27:21.059
 and acquainted

00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:21.700
 with grief

00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:23.139
 and as one

00:27:23.139 --> 00:27:23.920
 from whom men

00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:24.899
 hide their faces

00:27:24.899 --> 00:27:26.200
 he was despised

00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:27.379
 and we esteemed

00:27:27.379 --> 00:27:27.899
 him not

00:27:27.899 --> 00:27:29.960
 surely he has

00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:31.180
 borne our griefs

00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:31.660
 and carried

00:27:31.660 --> 00:27:32.579
 our sorrows

00:27:32.579 --> 00:27:34.000
 yet we esteemed

00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:34.660
 him stricken

00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:35.879
 smitten by God

00:27:35.879 --> 00:27:37.099
 and afflicted

00:27:37.099 --> 00:27:38.579
 but he was wounded

00:27:38.579 --> 00:27:39.720
 for our transgressions

00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:41.099
 he was crushed

00:27:41.099 --> 00:27:42.399
 for our iniquities

00:27:42.399 --> 00:27:43.660
 upon him

00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:44.639
 was the chastisement

00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:45.840
 that brought us peace

00:27:45.840 --> 00:27:46.940
 and with his stripes

00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:48.360
 we are healed

00:27:48.360 --> 00:27:50.620
 all we like sheep

00:27:50.620 --> 00:27:51.520
 have gone astray

00:27:51.520 --> 00:27:52.759
 we have turned

00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:53.700
 every one

00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:54.680
 to his own way

00:27:54.680 --> 00:27:55.620
 and the Lord

00:27:55.620 --> 00:27:56.420
 has laid on him

00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:57.120
 the iniquity

00:27:57.120 --> 00:27:58.259
 of us all

00:27:58.259 --> 00:28:00.060
 he was oppressed

00:28:00.060 --> 00:28:01.320
 and he was afflicted

00:28:01.320 --> 00:28:02.240
 yet he opened

00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:03.020
 not his mouth

00:28:03.020 --> 00:28:03.740
 like a lamb

00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:04.320
 that is led

00:28:04.320 --> 00:28:04.960
 to the slaughter

00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.880
 and like a sheep

00:28:05.880 --> 00:28:07.380
 that before it shears

00:28:07.380 --> 00:28:07.980
 is silent

00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:09.060
 so he opened

00:28:09.060 --> 00:28:10.120
 not his mouth

00:28:10.120 --> 00:28:11.740
 by oppression

00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.640
 and judgment

00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:13.759
 he was taken away

00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:15.819
 and as for his generation

00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:16.660
 who considered

00:28:16.660 --> 00:28:17.920
 that he was cut off

00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:18.559
 out of the land

00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:19.099
 of the living

00:28:19.099 --> 00:28:20.700
 stricken for the transgression

00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:21.819
 of my people

00:28:21.819 --> 00:28:23.420
 and they made his grave

00:28:23.420 --> 00:28:23.940
 with the wicked

00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:25.019
 and with a rich man

00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:25.779
 in his death

00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:26.839
 although he had done

00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:27.839
 no violence

00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:29.000
 and there was no deceit

00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:30.180
 in his mouth

00:28:30.180 --> 00:28:32.099
 yet it was the will

00:28:32.099 --> 00:28:32.539
 of the Lord

00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:33.259
 to crush him

00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:34.440
 he has put him

00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:34.980
 to grief

00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:36.160
 when his soul

00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:37.039
 makes an offering

00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:37.579
 for guilt

00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:38.400
 he shall see

00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:39.099
 his offspring

00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:40.539
 he shall prolong

00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:41.240
 his days

00:28:41.240 --> 00:28:42.720
 the will of the Lord

00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:43.519
 shall prosper

00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:44.400
 in his hand

00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:46.380
 out of the anguish

00:28:46.380 --> 00:28:47.019
 of his soul

00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:47.779
 he shall see

00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:48.940
 and be satisfied

00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:50.299
 by his knowledge

00:28:50.299 --> 00:28:51.440
 shall the righteous one

00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:52.319
 my servant

00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:53.079
 make many

00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:54.279
 to be accounted righteous

00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:55.500
 and he shall bear

00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:56.779
 their iniquities

00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:58.799
 therefore I will divide

00:28:58.799 --> 00:28:59.700
 him a portion

00:28:59.700 --> 00:29:00.460
 with the many

00:29:00.460 --> 00:29:01.519
 and he shall divide

00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.120
 the spoil

00:29:02.120 --> 00:29:03.299
 with the strong

00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:04.640
 because he poured out

00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:05.759
 his soul to death

00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:06.779
 and was numbered

00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:07.960
 with transgressors

00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:09.079
 yet he bore

00:29:09.079 --> 00:29:09.799
 the sin of many

00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:11.139
 and makes intercession

00:29:11.139 --> 00:29:13.099
 for the transgressors

00:29:13.099 --> 00:29:15.159
 let's pray together